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Review evidence
Engaging and immersive story: The game features an engaging and well-developed story that captivates players with its interesting mix of environments and characters. The storyline is praised for its depth, twists, and overall quality.
Deep and immersive world-building: The game offers a rich and immersive world that draws players in. The world-building is detailed and contributes significantly to the overall experience.
Enjoyable overall experience: Players find the game enjoyable overall, with many expressing fond memories of playing it during their childhood or teenage years.
Highly regarded RPG: The game is considered one of the best and most beloved RPGs, particularly on the PS2. It holds a special place for many players as a classic and favorite in the genre.
Enjoyable music and soundtrack: The game's music and soundtrack are highly praised for being fantastic and catchy. Players appreciate the quality and enjoyment of the music.
Camera and control issues: The game suffers from significant problems with camera control and movement mechanics. Players report awkward camera angles, locked camera systems, and unusual controls that make navigation and combat frustrating.
Game-breaking bugs and glitches: Players encounter various bugs and glitches that affect gameplay, including game hangs, freezes, graphical glitches, and specific bugs like the Fast Forward Bug and Black Screen Cinematic Bug.
Dated graphics: The graphics in the game are considered outdated and old school by many players. This includes complaints about the visuals appearing dated and not aging well.
Technical and performance issues: The game suffers from various technical issues, including long loading times, crashes, and stuttering. Players also report issues with the engine choking with many characters and general slowness.
Repetitive and boring gameplay: Some parts of the game drag on and feel repetitive, including combat and dungeons. Players report that the game can be dull and lacks variety in encounters.
Party and summoning mechanics: The game allows players to control a party of up to four characters, with the ability to summon additional creatures. As the game progresses, more summoning options become available, catering to various combat needs such as damage or tanking.
Epic and atmospheric storytelling: The game features an epic and interesting storyline with rich lore, dark atmosphere, and plot twists. The storytelling is enhanced by an orchestral musical score and detailed character models.
Real-time with pause combat: The game features a real-time combat system with the option to pause, allowing players to plan and execute skills strategically. This mechanic is praised for its tactical depth and active gameplay.
Unique RPG elements: The game features unique RPG mechanics, including deep character customization, skill systems, and a variety of weapons and armor choices. This allows for extensive character development and build options.
Tactical and challenging combat: The combat system is tactical and challenging, requiring players to think strategically about their skills and party roles. The game is compared to classic RPGs like Baldur's Gate and Dragon Age.
Control and camera issues: Players experience clunky controls and awkward camera movements. The camera has limited draw distance and overall feels problematic, especially on PC.
Game crashes and instability: The game frequently crashes, hangs, or freezes, especially during extended play sessions or after changing zones multiple times. This makes the game unstable and frustrating to play.
Graphical problems and glitches: Players report outdated and strange graphics, along with various graphical glitches. These issues detract from the visual experience of the game.
Texture and resolution problems: There are issues with texture filtering, especially with HQ texture mods, and the game has low resolution by default. Some parts of the screen may be cut off.
Mixed experiences with game performance: Some players report that the game runs fine, even on low-end rigs, while others experience various technical issues. This indicates inconsistent performance across different systems.
Recommended for old-school RPG fans: The game is highly recommended for fans of old-school RPGs, particularly those who enjoy complex worlds and great storytelling.
Deep storyline and customization: The game offers a deep storyline with plenty of side quests, a good loot system, and extensive character customization options.
Worth trying despite flaws: Many players suggest that the game is worth buying and playing despite its drawbacks and flaws.
Positive recommendations: Many players highly recommend the game, stating that it is a good buy and worth experiencing for its uniqueness.
High replay value: The game provides a good amount of replay value with different endings and various ways to customize your character and party.
Steam Deck: The game is generally well-received for its story and gameplay, but the lack of controller support is a significant drawback that affects the user experience negatively. The game's age and graphics are noted, but they do not detract from the overall enjoyment for most users.
Game is too difficult: The game's difficulty level is perceived as extremely high, with players feeling lost and frustrated. The only available guides are text-based and require a high level of dedication to understand and follow.